[May 21, 2014](Reuters) - The Cleveland Cavaliers
struck the jackpot for a second successive year, and the third time in
four, when they won the first pick in the NBA Draft lottery in New York
on Tuesday. —

Despite having only a 1.7 percent chance of obtaining the
first selection with the ninth-best odds, the Cavaliers emerged
as victors in the much anticipated lottery.

In 2011, Cleveland finished with the second-worst record in the
league but earned the right to pick point guard Kyrie Irving of
Duke with the top selection.

Last year, the Cavaliers had the third-best chance of scooping
the lottery, yet still came out on top and chose forward Anthony
Bennett of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Australian Irving, a twice NBA All-Star, was delighted by
Tuesday's lottery news and tweeted: "Luck of the ping pong
balls... Very exciting!!!"

The Milwaukee Bucks, who ended up with the league's worst record
in 2013-14, will pick second in this year's draft, followed by
the Philadelphia 76ers, who endured a 26-game losing streak
during the regular season.